James wedlake



(No Model.)

J. WEDLAKE.

HARVESTER.

N0. 368,260. Patented Aug. 16, 1887.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES \VEDLAKE, OF BRANTFORD, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO A. HARRIS, SON & COMPANY, (LIMITED) OF SAME PLACE.

HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,260, dated August 16, 1887.

Application filed Fcbruarv 8, 1887. Serial No. 226,972. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES WVEDLAKE, of the city of Brantford, in the county of Brant, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, maehinist, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesters, of which the following is a specification. Y

The invention relates to that class of harvesters in which the main frame is adj ustably connected to the drive-wheel of the harvester; and the object of the invention is to arrange a spring which will relieve the worm-shaft and the frame of the machine from any jar caused lay the drive-wheel passing over an obstrucion.

It consists, essentially, in placing a spring on the frame of the machine in such a position that it will support the worm-shaft by which the frame is raised and lowered, substantially in the manner hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a'perspective view of the drive wheel and rectangular main frame provided with my improved device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of the bracket and relief-spring. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective detail of the worm and its supportingbracket.

A represents the rectangular frame which surrounds the drive-wheel B.

O is a segment-standard fixed to the frame A, and having an internal rack formed on it with which the spur-pinion D meshes. This pinion D is connected to the worm-wheel E, which is fastened upon the axle F of the drive-wheel B. A corresponding segment-standard and spurpinion are located on the inner side of the frame A; but as they form no part of my invention it is not necessary to show them in the drawings.

G is a bracket sleeved on the axle F, and designed to support the inner end of the wormshaft H, upon which the worm I is fixed. The bracket G is formed substantially as shown in Fig. 3, and has a cap, a, formed on its top end to cover the worm I and protect it from dirt. It is also formed so as to provide abearing, b, for the wormshaft H on either side of the worm I. The worm-shaft H extends over the frame A to the rear, as shown in Fig. 1, and

passes through a slot, (I, which is formed in the bracket J, fixed to the frame A, as indieated.

K is a spiral spring, its bottom end resting on the shelf a, formed 011 the bottom of the bracket J. A spindle, L, passes through the spiral spring K, and is connected at its top end to a cap, M, which rests upon the top of the spring K, and is fitted into the slot d, as indicated in Fig. 2. A hole, 6', is left in the shelf 0 to permit the spindle L to pass through it when the spring K is compressed by pressure directed upon the top of the cap M.

It will be noticed that the worm shaft H, which passes through the slot d, rests upon the cap M; consequently any downward pressure on the said worm-shaft II must be supported by the spring K.

As the inner end of the worm-shaft H is supported by the bracket G, sleeved on the axle F, and the worm I is geared to the standard 0, as before described, so that the weight of the frame A shall be supported by the said worm I, it follows, therefore, that when the wheel B is jarred by passing over an obstruction the outer end of the worm-shaft H is pressed down, and the spring K, which supports the outerend of the said worm-shaft H, will naturally give, so as to relieve the frame A from the jar which otherwise would be directed against it. This will be evident if we consider that as the pinion D, wheel E, bracket G, worm I, and its shaft H (being all rigidly connected) form practically'a lever fulcrumed on the axle F, whose outer end is supported by the spring K, any tendency of the axle of the wheel to rise in the guide C will cause the pinion D, wheel E, bracket G, worm I and its shaft H to move slightly around the axle of the wheel as a center, and thus depress the cranked end of said shaft H against the force of the spring K.

Should, therefore, the wheel 13 pass over any obstruction, there will be a tendency of the pinion to rise on the rack, and thus cause the lever formed of the shaft H, &c., to press on the spring K, which would give way to the pressure, and thus relieve the jar caused by passing over the obstruction.

In addition to the worm-shaft II acting in connection with the spring K for the purpose of relieving the frame A from any jar, as described, I-also use it-for the purpose of raising and lowering the frame A on the axle F. For this purpose I provide a crank, N, fixed to the end of the worm-shaft H, by turning which the worm I is caused to act on the worm-wheel E, which, as before described, is connected to the pinion D, which meshes with a rack formed on the back of the standard 0. v

What I claim as my invention is- A shaft provided with a worm, a wor1n-whee1 connected to the main axle of the machine and meshing with said worm, a spur-pinion rigidly connected to the said wor n-whee], and a rack formed onv a segment-standard attached to the 15 JAMES 'WEDLAKE.

In presence of- LLOYD HARRIS, JAMES GRANT. 

